Miniature aerial toy



Nov. 26, 1940.

1.. MAIN 5 MINIATURE AERIAL TOY Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4r/2 L Q2 K I a 1 w F'I'EJ.

/ N VEN 70/? L E W/s MA/N Nov. 26, 1940. A 2,222,677

MINIATURE AERIAL TOY Filed May 15, 1929 2 Shee-s-Sheet 2 Patented Nov.26, 1940 v UNITED- STATES MINIATURE AERIAL TOY Lewis Main, Verdun,Quebec, Canada, assignor to Harry Freed, New York, N. Y.

Application May 15, 1939, Serial No, 273,753 In Canada March 13, 1939 4Claims. (01. 46-52) This invention relates to a toy aeroplane.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a toy aeroplanewhich may be manufactured at exceedingly low cost and yet, will in ceritain important respects, simulate a real aeroplane admirably so as tointrigue a child. It is a more specific object of the invention toprovide a toy of this nature including means causing the plane when inflight to make a droning sound giving the sensation of an actualaeroplane or fleet of aeroplanes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of thisnature in which the tone of the droning sound may be varied by a simpleadjust- 5 ment.

A still further object is to provide an article of this nature which ismade up of a number of separate parts which can be accommodatedcompactly and yet which are easily assembled into operative form, so asto have the appeal of a Detailed description Having thus generallydescribed the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the35 accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toy plane constructed according to theinvention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the plane shown 40 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the plane of the previous Figures 1and 2, in flight.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the various separate parts of theplane shown in the previous figures.

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating an alternative way for attachingthe spreaders to the wing tip.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 50 the plane is made up ofa fuselage II to which is connected a wing l2 and a tail l3. To the tipof each wing is connected a spreader l4. About the spreaders isstretched as indicated in the figure, an elastic band IS. The fuselagell 55 is provided with spaced-apart holes I 6 preferably locatedadjacent its upper edge and closer to its forward end than its rear end,which are respectively adapted to accommodate a hook l'l connected to acord l8 forming a part of the actuating apparatus. The cord I8 isconnected to a 5 handle 19. v In this preferred form of construction,the fuselage is slotted as at 20 and 2| to receive in a snug fit thewing l2 and the tail I3 respectively, these elements also being slottedat 22 and 23 to 10 engage the inserted portions of the fuselage, asindicated in the drawings. According to this 'constructi'on, the wingtips are slotted as at 24 to receive in a snug fit spreaders l4, alsoslotted as "at 25 to engagethe faces of the wing. The spread- 5 ers arepreferably segmental in form to present an arcuate outer surface forengagement with the elastic band. The band is stretched about thespreaders presenting a flat surface parallel to the wings, its tensionholding the spreaders and it- 20 self in place.

For economical construction, the plane may be made of wood, the wing andfuselage preferably being of hard wood, and the tail and spreaders ofsoft wood. The frictional engagement between 25 the respective soft andhard wood surfaces ef fects a relatively secure joint of the respectivepieces without resorting to nails, screws or adhesive.

An alternative form of construction is illustrated in Figure 5. In thisform the wing tips include slots extending inwardly from the rear edgeof the wing 30. Flat spreaders 3| engage in the slots 30 and includeslots 32 of their own to engage the wing surfaces. The tips of the 35spreaders are bevelled or rounded as at 33 to form a satisfactorybearing for the elastic, corresponding in function to the arcuatesurface of the segmental spreaders [4.

Operation I The aeroplane is flown by whirling it about centrifugally onthe end of the cord with the handle I9 as an axis. The pressure of theair when the plane is moving rapidly causes the elastic to vibrategiving a droning sound simulating that of an aeroplane or fleet ofaeroplanes. The tone of the droning sound may be varied by adjusting thetautness of the elastic between the spreaders. The shape of thespreaders and their relatively long surfaces enable them to retain africtional hold on the elastic engaging them so that the band may beslackened by tautening that portion in contact with the surface of thespreaders and vice versa; the taut band gives the droning sound a highnote and a loose band a low note. Varying tones may also be achieved bythe use of elastics of different dimensions. The plane's angle of flightand the extent of the droning sound may be adjusted by selection of theappropriate hole l6 within which the hook I! engages.

Advantages A toy of this nature'has many advantages over otheraeroplane-simulating articles. In the first place it is cheap, beingmade for a few cents and has the appeal of a structural toy. It iscapable of making an intriguing noise remarkably similar to that of areal plane or fleet of planes flying overhead. It is sturdy and thereare no working parts to go out of order. It is always under the controlof the operator and is thus not dangerous to play with, as are toyplanes which get out of control and run into furniture, walls, andupholstery. This being the case, the toy can be used in or out of doors,and can also be taken down and neatly packed for carrying about.

It will be understood that preferred forms of the invention have beendescribed and that various modifications may be made without departingfrom its spirit as defined by the accompanying claims.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplifyreference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

I claim:

1. In combination, a knock-down toy adapted to be assembled to obtainvarious points of balance thereof, said toy simulating an aeroplane andcomprising a fuselage, wings and a tail, a transverse spreader at eachwing tip, an endless elastic band extending about the spreaders, and

means for imparting centrifugal motion to said simulated aeroplane tocause droning vibration of said elastic member, said means havingremovable connection with said fuselage at a selective point of balancethereof.

2. A toy comprising a plurality of parts adapted to be variablyassembled whereby different points of balance of said toy are obtained,a vibratory member mounted on said toy, and means for impartingcentrifugal motion to said toy to cause vibration of said vibratorymember, said means being removably engageable with said toy at aselective point of balance thereof.

3. In a toy comprising a plurality of parts adapted to be variablyassembled and provided with a vibratory member, a fuselage part formedwith a plurality of holes within the limits of the various points ofbalance of said toy, and motion imparting means for said toy havingremovable selective connection with said holes.

4. A toy comprising a miniature aeroplane formed of fiat members insimulation of the wings, fuselage and tail of an aeroplane, said membersbeing frictionally engaged with each other to provide an assembly havinga variable point of balance, said point being variably found at anintermediate point on said fuselage to the rear of said wings, atransverse spreader at each wing tip, an endless elastic memberextending about the Spreaders, and means for imparting centrifugalmotion to said aeroplane to simulate flight and to cause droningvibration of said elastic member, said fuselage being provided with aplurality of holes whereby said means may be selectively attached to thefuselage at the desired point of balance of the aeroplane.

LEWIS MAIN.

